San Angelo Bandits Help Elks Club Feed 400 Veterans for Free Saturday

Veterans ate lunch for free Saturday in observance of Memorial Day.

Mike Ryan, of the Elks Lodge #1880 in San Angelo, explained that this was an annual community event, veterans appreciation day, where the Elks fed veterans and their families all day long free of charge.

The money for the event is raised locally and matched at higher levels, Ryan explained.

On the menu was traditional Texas style barbeque brisket, sausage, served with a flour tortilla, beans, potato salad, cole slaw, and a variety of desserts.

In all, approximately 400 lunches were served.

Cooking and preparation of the briskets began two days earlier, Ryan said.

The San Angelo Bandits, the local arena football team, was on hand to serve and help make the celebration a success.

Tim McGee, the noseguard for the Bandits, explained what the Bandits are all about. “We’re a second year team with a lot of good guys. Some of us have never played arena football before. And the important thing is that we’re winning,” he said. “That’s what matters.”

Lamont “Cash” Cashmere is one of the Bandit’s wide receivers. I asked him if it hurt getting tackled on the Astroturf. “I don’t know because I try not to fall. But I've heard from a couple of teammates that it hurts pretty bad,” Cash said, directing his comments to his game partner, the other WR across the table, with a smile. He said that arena football doesn’t necessarily require more speed. But more skill and knowledge of the game are very important. You have to play smarter than the long field players, he said.

Brian Ingram is the other wide receiver. He’s from Atlanta, and said he tries not to fall too. “A lot of people playing here are hoping to win a championship and move up into higher leagues,” he said.

Back to the vets:

Cash said that he was appreciative of veterans because he saw first hand how the armed forces immensely helped his hometown of New Orleans during the Hurricane Katrina disaster. Other Bandits had fathers, uncles, grandfathers, sisters and brothers serving.

All were proud and happy to assist Saturday.

The Bandits are having a very successful season so far. They are in contention for the playoffs. The next game is Monday, Memorial Day night, at Foster Coliseum at 7:05 p.m.

One more thing: The general consensus of the table of the Bandits, football experts them all, was that Johnny Manziel is going to be a star in Cleveland.